Mining sulphur



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. FRASUH.

MINING SULPHUR.

No. 461,431. Patented 001.520, 1891.

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l (N5 Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

- H. PRASCH.

MINING SULPHUR.

N5.-461,431. 'Patented 001;. zo, 1891.

UNTED STATES" PATENT- OFFICE.

HERMAN FRASOH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MINING SULPHUR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,431, dated October20., 1891.

Application filed December 26, l 890. Serial No. 375,800. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, HERMAN FBAsCH, a citizen of the United States,resid-ing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio,have invented certain newr and useful Improvements in Mining Sulphur, ofwhich the following specification is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to the removal 0f sulphur from deposits in theearth which consist of or contain free sulphur, and is particularlyuseful in the removal of the sulphur` from deposits which are overlaidwith beds of quicksand and which therefore cannot be mined in the usualway by sinking a shaft; but each of the improvements constituting thesaid invention is included for all the uses to which it may be adapted.By means of the present invention, moreover, a refining of the sulphuris effected in the mining 0peration. Y

The invention consists in liquefying the sulphur in the mine orunderground deposit by means of a solvent vehicle and lifting thesolution to the surface by a pump or other known or suitable means ofraising liquids. For the purpose of liquefying the sulphur the inventionincludes solvents in general of sulphur, (among which bisulphide ofcarbon, tar, petroleum, and other hydrocarbonorethereal oils may bementioned,) and the solvents may be used at any appropriate degree oftempera-4 ture. The sulphur may be recovered from the solvent indifferent ways, as by distillation in case a Volatile solvent is used,or by crystallization on cooling in case a hot solvent is employed forliquefying the sulphur in the mine. The nature of the solvent used, thetemperature at which it is used, and the mode of recovering the sulphurtherefrom are, however, matters of practical consequence; and' theinvention covers processes or improvements involving such matters asspecial features of invention. 'lhus, for example, the use of thesolvent hot (or raised more or less above ordinary atmospherictemperature) constitutes a special feature; also,the recovery of thesulphur by separation on cooling; also,

the use of petroleum as a solvent; also, the use of a solventnon-volatile at the meltingpoint of sulphur, and in particular petroleumintermediate in gravity between burning and the present liquid.

lubricating oils say oilof 36 Baume; also, in introducing and removingthe solvent or in circulating it through the sulphur deposit withoutfilling the cavity. These special features areeach included separately,as Well as v in connection with one or more of the others. Further, theinvention consists in inducing a circulation of a solvent in theunderground cavity (Whether wholly or partly full) by introducing thefresh liquid near the bottom of the cavity or point at which the sulphursolution is removed. If the liquid be hot when introduced, the hightemperature makes it specifically lighter than the liquid already in thecavity, so that it tends to rise, and thus induces a circulation of thewhole fluid mass. The solution of the sulphur in the vehicle also makesthe liquid in the cavity specifically heavier, and consequentlyincreases the differences in density between the infiowing and This partof the invention extends to the circulation, as above indicated, of aliquid iu general adapted to liquefyf ing the sulphur. In thisconnection the Word liquefy is used in the general sense of reducing toaliquid state irrespective of which of the known modes of effectingliquefaction is empl0yed,thekn0wn modes of liquefactionbeing, first,solution, and, second, fusion. It is to be understood, however, thatneither' mode has been utilized in the removal of sulphur fromunderground mines prior to my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Which form part of this specification,Figure I is a diagram of a plant for mining sulphur in accordance Withthe invention. Fig. II is a diagram of the mine or well on an enlargedscale. Fig. III is a diagram of a somewhat different arrangement ofWell. Fig. IV is a View illustrating another mode of finishing thecleans.- Y

be provided with perforations 2 at the side,

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or may be otherwise provided with a strainer, or it may be more or lessopen. 'The casing B may be provided With small openings 3 and 3 to actas air-vents. The opening 3 is shown as provided With a valve inthe formof a screw-plug, so that it can be opened or closed at will. At thesurface of the ground there is a casing-head D, having a lateral tube 4.The tubing C extends through the casing-head D, which is shown providedwith a stutng-box around the tubing. A lateral pipe 8 leads from-thetubing. At the bottom of the tubing is the working barrel F of the pump,and at F F are the piston and the check-valve. The piston is operated bythe sucker-rod F", extending through the tubing O and passing outthrough a stuiing-box at the top of the tubing to suitable means forreciprocating it. The whole arrangement is like the pumping meansemployed in oil- Wells.

At E is a heater with steam-pipes G for raising the temperature of thesolvent which is to be introduced into the mine. A pipe 5 conducts thehot Huid from the heaterE and discharges it into the mine through thecasing B. A feeding-pump could be interposed in this pipe (like the pumpF* of Fig. III) in.

stead of the solvent being allowed to run from the heater into the mineby gravity alone. The lateral pipe S from the tubing C delivers thesulphur solution into vessels for recovering the sulphur. These vessels,as shown in Fig. I, are coolers G, in the form of large frusto-conicalbuckets, which are set in a vat G,supplied with cooling' medium, as coldwater entering lby pipe 7 and escaping by pipe 7.

The pipe 8 is supplied with a lexible hose 8', such as used foroil,(petroleum,) by which the sulphur solution can be run into anycooler G in the vat G.

At H is a strainer for drawing off the solvent from the sulphur whichhas been separated by cooling in the buckets G. It consists of a vesselhaving a perforated false bottom 9, which is covered With a cloth. Apipe lO connects the space under the false bottom with the inlet of apump K, Whose outlet is connected by the pipe ll with the heater E. Thestraining-vessel H has a close-itting removable cover 12, and a pipe 13enters just below said cover for admitting into the said vessel. a luidfor removing the last traces ot` solvent from the sulphur.

In order to carry out the process of the present invention with theapparatus described, the heater E may be filled With petroleumdistillate of, say, 36 Baume, Which is then heated to, say, 250oFahrenheit, at which temperature it is capable of dissolving one hundredper cent. of sulphur. When this oil has been raised to the proper degreeof heat, it is introduced through the casing B into the bottom of thewell. There it comes in contact with the sulphur or sulphur-containingwalls of the cavity, which it dissolves, forming a sulphur solution.This solution is pumped up by means of the pump F F F and dischargedthrough the tubing C and pipe 8 into one or more ot the vessels G. Hereit is allowed to cool and .deposit the sulphur. 60 Fahrenheit the oilWill contain about four percent. of sulphur. Vhen this temperature isreached, the buckets G are emptied into the strainer H. This oil,lightly charged With sulphur, passes through the false bottom 9 and isreturned by a pump Kinto the heater E. When its temperature has beenraised, it is again introduced into the Well. As the cavity in the mineincreases itis not necessary to increase the quantity of solvent used,since the solvent maybe allowed to only partially ll the cavity, asindicated by the dotted lines. By introducing the hot solvent at or nearthe bottom of the cavity it naturally rises as soon as it escapes fromthe casing B and creates a circulation, which flows over and comes incontact With the sulphur, dissolving the same, so that it can be pumpedout in a liquid condition. It is evident that the hot solvent could beintroduced considerably above the bottom of the tubing C or at the upperpart of the cavity Vin the mine; but in that case the advantage ofobtaining acirculation, as just stated, would notbe had. The solvent canbe introduced'continuously at the same time that the sulphur solution ispumped out, thus making a continuous operation, or the solvent can beintroduced, allowed to stand, and then the sulphur solution be pumpedout. Instead of raising the oil to the temperature indicated, it may beraised to a less temperature or to a higher temperature. The coolingalso might be to a temperature other than o0"v Fahrenheit. It ispossible also to employ this petroleum solvent in a cold state; but thisis not considered advantageous. The portion of the solvent which adherescan be removed by-Washing the sulphur with a volatile solvent ot' theoil, like bisulphide of carbon or benzine. The cover 12 can be closedwhen this is effected, the solvent being introduced through the pipe 13.It passes with `the heavy oil through the false bottom.9, and may beallowed to pass through the pump K into the heater E. Only a smallquantity is required. When the sulphur is removed from thestraining-'vessel H, any of the light solvent which may adhere passesott as vapor.

Instead of using a light solvent to Wash off the heavy oil, this may beeffected by theintroduction of steam into the vessel H through the pipe13. To separate the'water of condensation from the oil, a separator ortrap J, Fig. IV, may be inserted between the vessel H and -the pump K.This is a common appliance in oil-refineries and needs no descriptionhere."

Instead of employing petroleum-gas oil, as the product above-mentionedis called, aniline or phenol might be used or other appropriate solvent.

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Instead of raising the solution of sulphur by means of a pump at thebottom of the Well, a pump Fk, (see Fig.`III,) which discharges thesolvent from the heaterE into the casing B, may be utilized for thatpurpose by introducing enough solvent or other fluid to fill the cavityin the mine. By introducing the casing B into the cavity, as shown indotted lines in this figure, air can be pumped in to Iill the space (orpart of the space) above the end of the casing, thus confining thesolvent to the lower part ot' the cavity.

Instead of using a solvent non-volatile at the melting-point of sulphur,like petroleumgas oil, aniline, or phenol, a volatile sulphur solvent,like benzol, (coal-naphtha,) benzine,

(petroleum-n aphtha,) or bisulphide of carbon, may be used. This wouldpreferably be ernployed in the cold state, but may be heated. It can beintroduced into the mine through the casing B either at the top 0rbottom of the cavity, and when it has become saturated or charged withsulphur is removed by the pump F F F (see Fig. V) and discharged into asuitable steam-heated still M, in Which the solvent is evaporated fromthe sulphur. The temperature at the bottom of the still is preferablysufficient to melt the sulphur, s0 that it can be drawn off at 15 in aliquid state. The evaporated solvent is recovered in a condenser N andis reused for the liquefying of the sulphur in the mine. As shown, thepump K discharges the condensed solvent into the tank P, from which itiiows into the Well or mine, and the sulphur solution from the mine isdischarged into tank Q, from which it is drawn into still M. Thevolatile solvent could be made to fill the cavity in the mine; butpreferably it would be introduced so as to only partially fill the same,as described, for the non-volatile solvent. It can be forced into andout of said cavity by a pump at the surface of the ground, as exhibitedin Fig. III.

It will be understood that the variousmodes described are all Within theinvention and are embraced by some one or more of the following claims,special claim being also made to that mode Which employs a heatedsolvent and separates the sulphur by cooling or'being so made as toapply to such mode and one or more of the other modes or to theirsubstantial equivalents.

I do not herein claim the apparatus described; but the same forms partof the subject-matter ot' my application of even date, Serial No.375,799.

I claim as my invention or discoveryl. The process of mining sulphur,consisting in introducing a sulphur solvent into the mine or undergrounddeposit and removing the sulphur solution formed thereby, substantiallyas described.

2. The process of mining sulphur, consisting in sinking a well throughoverlying strata to and into or through the sulphur or sulphurbearingdeposit to be mined, introducinginto the cavity and in contact with thesulphur a 'sulphur solvent, and removing the solution of sulphur formedthereby, substantially as described.

3. The process of mining sulphur, consisting in liquefying the sulphurin the mine by means of a solvent and removing the sulphur solutionthrough a pipe or conduit from the cavity of tlie mine, substantially asdescribed.

4. The process of recovering sulphur from underground deposits and atthe same time effecting a refiningof the sulphur, consisting inliquet'ying the sulphur in the mine or underground deposit by bringingin contact therewith a solvent of sulphur, removingthe sulphur solution,andseparating the solvent and sulphur from. each other, substantially asdescribed.

5. The process of mining sulphur, consisting in introducing a sulphursolvent into the mine, removing the sulphur solution, separating thesolvent andthe sulphur from each other, and returning the solvent intothe mine7 substantially as described.

` 6. The process of mining sulphur, consisting in liquet'ying thesulphur in the mine by asolvent, removing the sulphur solution,andrecovering sulphur therefrom by cooling said solution, substantially asdescribed.

7. The process of mining sulphur, consisting indissolvng the sulphur inthe mine by means of a heated solvent and removing the sulphur solution,substantially as described.

8. The process of recovering sulphur from underground deposits,consisting in bringing into contact with the sulphur in the mine a hotsolvent of sulphur, removing the sulphur solution, and separating thesulphur from the' solvent by cooling, substantially as described.

9. The process of mining sulphur, consisting in introducing a heatedsolvent into the mine and removing the sulphur solution in a continuousmanner, substantially as described.

10. The process of mining sulphur, consisting in partially filling thecavity in the mine With a solvent liquid and removing the sulphursolution from the cavity, substantially as described.

11. The process of mining sulphur, consisting in dissolving the sulphurin the mine by means of a heated Asolvent non-volatile at themelting-point of sulphur and removing the sulphur solution,substantially as described. 12. The process of mining sulphur,consisting in dissolving the sulphur in the mine by IOO l5.Theimprovement in mining sulphur by means of a liquid adapted to liquefythe sulphureonsisting` in introducing the said liquid below the level ofthe liquid in the cavity and withdrawing the liquefied sulphur andvehicle from a lower point', substantially as described.

16. The improvementin miningsulphurby means of a liquid adapted toliquety sulphur, consisting in introducing the said liquid in a heatedstate below the level of the liquid in the cavity and withdrawing theliquefied sulphur and vehicle from a lower point, substantially asdescribed.

17. Theimprovement in mining sulphur by means of a liquid adapted toliquefy the sulphur and introduced into the cavity in the speeieation inthe presence of two witnesses. 3 o

HERMAN FRASCI-I. Attesting witnesses:

G. W. BoUDrNoT, F. W. LOTHMAN. f

